news update
First phase of Soul scheme in Queensland pushed back
PETE HAYMAN
Work on the fi rst stage of construction at Juniper Development Group’s multi-mil- lion dollar Soul project in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia, has been pushed back. T e mixed-use plans include a retail complex and a 77-storey residential tower, which is set to feature a spa, sauna area, a gym and an indoor lap pool. A spokesperson for Juniper Development
Group said that issues aff ecting construc- tion work had caused it to revise its timings for the completion of stage one.
300 spas for Four Fountains PETE HAYMAN
India-based spa operator Four Fountains Spa has con- fi rmed its intention to launch 300 new facilities across the country within the next three years. T e majority of the new sites (85 per cent) are set to be franchisee owned and oper- ated, with 10 per cent to be franchisee owned and com- pany operated and 5 per cent to be in-house. Four Fountains Spa direc-
tor Sunil Rao said the company was looking to realise its ambi- tion of “creating a health and stress-free India” by off ering aff ordable thera- pies. T e company currently runs 11 spas – three in Mumbai; four in Pune; and locations in Goa, Manali, Aurangabad and Bhopal. Rao told Spa Business that the expansion plans would see Four Fountains open sites across India’s top 50 cities with a “strong pipeline” already in place.
T e fl oating spa includes outdoor hot tubs
Floating spa unveiled in Montréal quay
PETE HAYMAN
A new floating spa concept, onboard a refurbished, stationary 1950s ferry, has launched at the Quays of the Old Port of Montréal in Canada. Sid Lee Architecture designed the spa,
called Bota Bota, which is spread across fi ve decks. T e lower decks feature 20 treat- ment rooms and a Bota Chic lounge area. A yoga and meditation studio is also included. Meanwhile, the upper decks boast wet spa facilities – including a steamroom, saunas, hot tubs and rest areas.
Inquiry launched into the safety of fi sh spas
TOM WALKER
T e practice of using toothless Garra rufa fi sh to perform pedicures at spas is to be probed by the UK’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) and environmental health offi cers, following concerns over the safety of the treatments. Fish therapies have become popular and
some operators, such as London-based Aqua Sheko, base their entire business model on the Garra rufa. An HPA spokes- person told Spa Business that the agency was looking into the matter following que- ries from health offi cers around the UK.
Ritz-Carlton to debut in Israeli market TOM WALKER
Ritz-Carlton is to invest us$160m (€110m, £98m) in opening a luxury hotel in Herzliya, Israel. The hotel operator has
agreed a management deal for a 12-storey property which will feature a 110-bedroom Ritz- Carlton hotel, with the top six fl oors featuring 85 Ritz- Carlton Residential Suites. The property, owned by
Four Fountains’ plans include opening sites across India’s 50 top cities “Although the spa market in India is small, it is
growing at a scorching pace of nearly 35 to 40 per cent per annum. T is growth will be primarily driven by new customers coming to spas due to rising stress levels in urban India,” said Rao. “Our intention is to bring spa therapies within people’s reach by making them aff ordable.”
T e property was initially meant to be the fi rst Nobu-branded hotel
Israel-based Tidhar, is the same that US restaurant chain Nobu intended to develop as the fi rst Nobu-branded hotel and spa – those plans were cancelled in 2009. An opening date has been scheduled for
March 2012 and facilities at the hotel include a luxury spa, a rooſt op outdoor pool and a res- taurant. Exact details of the 510sq m (5,500sq ſt ) Ritz-Carlton Spa have yet to be confi rmed,
but according to the company the facility will off er “rejuvenation and restorative experiences” as well as a number of exclusive signature spa treatments. Simon Cooper, Ritz-Carlton’s president and
CEO, said the hotel will target both leisure and corporate guests and is part of the group’s expansion plans for the region.
The Siam hotel & Opium Spa for Bangkok TOM WALKER
T e Siam hotel with its Opium Spa is set to open later this year in Bangkok, T ailand. Spa facilities will include a number of treat-
ment rooms, a bath house, a steamroom and a sauna. Products will be supplied by Sodashi.
16 Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital
The 39-bedroom Siam hotel has been
designed by the hotel group’s creative director Krissada Sukosol Clapp, together with archi- tect Bensley Design Studios. T e property is located on 3 acres (1 hectare) of prime real-es- tate on the banks of the River of Kings.
SPA BUSINESS 2 2011 ©Cybertrek 2011
PHOTO:
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/©FALKO MATTE
IMAGE: SID LEE
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